Lincs CCC earn a draw in the rain

The team travelled to Sedbergh School for the third of their Unicorns Championship Eastern Division matches of the season.

The hosts were one point in front of the Lincolnshire side at the top of the table and a close encounter was envisaged with both sides having won their opening two fixtures.

Unfortunately, the bad weather resulted in more than 150 of the scheduled overs being lost and both teams were left to play for bonus batting and bowling points.

Ross Carnelley returned to the side in place of the injured Sam Kelsall, whilst the previously injured Karanjit Bansal and Martin Weightman also returned.

Cumberland won the toss and had no hesitation in putting Lincolnshire in to bat.

Bansal and Carnelley gave the innings a good start before the latter was dismissed with the total on 61.

A middle order collapse then followed as Lincolnshire slumped to 102-6 with Louth, Freeman, Wilson and Robinson all falling for single figure scores.

Bansal also fell for a fluent 54 and the visitors were now in some trouble.

There then followed the stand of the innings as Weightman and Osmond added 70 for the seventh wicket before Weightman was dismissed for a valuable 45.

Osmond and Lucas added a crucial 38 to take the total past the 200 mark before Lucas fell for 16.

Osmond continued to attack the bowling and was finally caught for 67 as the rain clouds gathered.

At 226-9 play was abandoned for the day as heavy rain forced the players from the pitch.

On day two, Lincolnshire’s last pair, Shepherd and Willerton, added a further 44 to the total, Shepherd making 26 and Willerton 25 not out.

This gave Lincolnshire a final total of 270 and two batting points.

Cumberland began their innings in confident style and reached 51 without loss before rain again intervened and no further play was possible for the day.

A delayed start on day three meant there was little hope of a result.

Both sides were looking to obtain bonus points and Lincolnshire’s hopes of doing so seemed good as Cumberland were reduced to 112-3, with David Lucas taking all three wickets.

There then followed an outstanding partnership as Jon Miles and Gary Pratt added 259 for the fourth wicket, Miles making 106 and Pratt a magnificent 156 not out, thereby giving Cumberland maximum batting points.

The hosts eventually declared on 386-4 a lead of 116.

There was little time for Lincolnshire to bat again before the inevitable rain fell and the match was abandoned.

Cumberland took 12 points from the match (four batting, four bowling and four for the draw), and Lincolnshire took seven points (two batting, one bowling and four for the draw).

Cumberland now lead the table jointly with Buckinghamshire, six points in front of Lincolnshire who are in third place.

Lincolnshire’s next fixture is at Grantham starting on Sunday, July 19, when they entertain Cambridgeshire.